Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 4

Written Answers. - Proposed UN National Memorial.

Bertie Ahern

Question:

298 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Minister for Defence whether he will support the efforts of the Irish United Nations Veterans' Association to have a national memorial to our deceased Irish United Nations' members erected on Mount Temple Road, thus properly honouring Army and Garda personnel who brought honour to Ireland while paying the ultimated sacrifice of selfless service to this nation. [11570/96]

Minister for Defence (Mr. Barrett)

Since 1987 members of the Defence Forces who died on United Nations service, and Irishmen who died in Foreign wars, are honoured at a commemorative ceremony held annually in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, on the Sunday nearest to 11 July. In the course of this cermony the president lays a wreath at a specially commissioned commemorative plaque which serves as the national memorial. It is considered that the Irish United Nations Veterans' Association should be encouraged to use this memorial as the focus for any commemorative ceremonies which they would wish to organise.

There are a number of other local memorials to deceased members of the Defence Forces who died on UN service located in various barracks throughout the country. These memorials were not financed from public funds.